Effective January 1, 2017, the rules governing eligible capital property (ECP) were replaced by the new Class 14.1. Property that would be eligible capital property prior to January 1, 2017 are considered depreciable property in the new Class 14.1 after December 31, 2016. Here is how those changes are handled in TaxCycle T2.

Old rule vs. new rule

Under the old rule, three-quarters of the ECP were included in the cumulative eligible capital (CEC) expenditure pool to be deducted on a declining balance basis at a rate of 7%.

Under the new rule, the cost of acquisition of properties is included in CCA Class 14.1 to be depreciated on a declining balance basis at a rate of 5%. If the property is related to expenditures incurred before January 1, 2017 (for example, CEC balance transferred from Schedule 10 to Schedule 8), the CCA rate becomes 7%.

A special note about incorporation costs

Under the
old rule, expenses incurred for incorporation, reorganization, or
amalgamation qualified as ECP.

As a measure to simplify the transition for small
businesses, a separate business deduction is provided for incorporation
expenses incurred after 2016. The first $3,000 of these expenses are treated as a current expense. They are reported on the new line 418 of the Schedule 1.
The excess must be included in the new
Class 14.1 in Schedule 8
.

Carrying forward a return with a tax year ending December 31, 2016

When you
carry forward a prior year’s T2 or T5013 return with a tax year ending on December
31, 2016, the closing balance for CEC on line 300 of the Schedule 10 carries forward
to the opening balance in Schedule 8 as the new Class 14.1.

Carrying forward a return with a tax year straddling December 31, 2016

When preparing a T2 or T5013 return with a tax year end that starts in 2016 and ends in 2017—for example, tax year ending on June 30, 2017—the amount of CEC is recalculated as of January 1, 2017. This calculation occurs in the new Part 3 of the Schedule 10.

A review message then appears on line 445 of the Schedule 10. It prompts you to transfer this amount to Class 14.1 on Schedule 8. In the review message that appears, click on the Quick Fix link to Transfer to S8.

CCA calculation of Class 14.1 at 5% or 7% declining balance rate

The capital cost allowance (CCA) for the new Class 14.1 is depreciated using the declining balance method. Generally, the CCA rate for this class is 5%. However, if class 14.1 is created from Schedule 10 due to expenditures incurred before January 1, 2017, the rate becomes 7%, and the annual CCA is calculated as the greater of the following two items:

undepreciated capital cost (UCC) multiplied by 7%

the lesser of $500 and the opening UCC of the class

In TaxCycle, you can see the details and explanation of this calculation on the S8Asset entry:

Dispositions

Under the old rule:

Three-quarters of the a sale's proceeds reduced the CEC balance on Schedule 10.

Two-thirds of the negative CEC resulting from a disposition was taxable as a full income inclusion.

Under the new rule, effective January 17, 2017:

Dispositions for ECP in CCA class 14.1 in excess of the cost, result in capital gains rather than business income.

If the corporation's tax year straddles December 31, 2016, the corporation can make an election to treat the excess as income or as capital gains. To make this election, complete Part 4 of Schedule 10.

For dispositions of class 14.1 expenditures incurred before 2017—for example,
CEC balance transferred from Schedule 10 to Schedule 8—there is a special
rule—in ITA 13(39)—that reduces the recapture upon disposition. When ITA subparagraph 13(39) applies, the recapture is reduced by one quarter of the
lesser of proceeds or the capital cost of that property by way of creating an
addition in Schedule 8.

If ITA subparagraph 13(39) applies, enter the
transaction date, proceeds, cost and select the check box in S8Asset in
TaxCycle:

Class 14.1 for Alberta AT1

To address these changes in the Alberta AT1, Alberta Finance has introduced a new form: AT1 Schedule 14 Supplemental (AS14Supplemental).

This new form is only for tax years that end on or after January 1, 2017 and that include December 31, 2016.

The AS14Supplemental has two pages that perform the same function as the new pages 3 and 4 of the federal Schedule 10.

If the AT1 return is electronically filed, the AS14Supplemental must be mailed separately to:

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